Laredo board discusses two-year funding contract with city; sends draft to City Council after attorney review

The Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability board reviewed a draft two‑year service and funding contract with the City of Laredo and agreed to forward the draft to City Council for formal approval after resolving several insurance and contract-language issues.

Board members and staff discussed specific contract language, insurance verification and the contract’s origin during the public portion of the meeting. The board then moved into an executive session under Texas Government Code Section 551.071 for consultation with counsel; participants said nothing was decided during that closed session and the public meeting resumed afterward.

Board members said the city requires documentation showing the organization’s authority and insurance coverage. A board representative described the group named in the draft as “Laredo Center for Urban Agriculture and Sustainability, a local government corporation” and asked that the contract explicitly reference the city resolution that created the corporation. The board requested insertion of the resolution number cited in the draft (transcribed as “2019 R 06499”) so the contract record clearly ties to the city action that created the entity.

Insurance and liability language drew particular attention. A board attorney asked that the contract’s indemnity language be tightened and suggested removing the modifier “gross” from the phrase related to negligence, so the organization’s insurers could confirm coverage. Board staff said they will provide a copy of the organization’s current insurance policies for city review and that workers' compensation coverage will be obtained for future employees.

Board members also raised the contract’s termination and payment provisions. One member asked how the board would manage prepayments for events (for example, symposium food) if the contract allowed a 30‑day termination; the board requested that staff ask the city whether a 90‑day termination period would be possible for large prepayments. City staff and the board said the draft is preliminary and will be revised before final action.

Meeting participants confirmed the funding contract must go to Laredo City Council for award. The board agreed to forward the draft and related documentation to the city for council consideration and to coordinate final signature authority after council approval. Multiple participants stated that the contract will not be signed until required approvals and the outstanding stipulations are resolved and recorded.

The board also agreed to supply questions in writing to the city attorney and staff for clarification and to circulate revised contract language to board members before the council agenda item is finalized. No final contract award or signature occurred at this meeting.

Ending: The board set further follow-up: staff will supply insurance certifications and the city will respond on termination-notice language and other stipulations; the contract will be placed on the City Council agenda for formal approval. No signature was executed at the meeting.